5. Detroit (4-12)

Coming off a distressing collapse in which they gave up 437 points, the Lions must find a way to close the wide-open door

to their end zone. They’re fortunate to have several options here, and go for the pass rusher. …

Ziggy Ansah, De, Byu

6. Cleveland (5-11)

After holding their breath that the cornerback they seek will be on the board — the previous three teams all have a need there

— the Browns can exhale and call the name. …

Dee Milliner, Cb, Alabama

7. Arizona (5-11)

If they can’t trade down, the Cardinals won’t have to swallow hard to upgrade their offensive line with a proven winner and

another Crimson Tide player. …

Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

8. Buffalo (6-10)

Every team puts up smoke screens before the draft. And the Bills sure seem to have polluted the air with them because we think

they aren’t convinced Kevin Kolb or Tarvaris Jackson is more than a backup or fill-in QB. So the first quarterback off the

board is. …

Geno Smith, Qb, West Virginia

9. New York Jets (6-10)

Having finally dealt Darrelle Revis, the Jets could look at a cornerback here, perhaps FSU’s Xavier Rhodes. And, yes, they

might have considered Smith. But someone who can get to the quarterback from the outside is a must for Rex Ryan’s defense.

…

Barkevious Mingo, De-Olb, Lsu

10. Tennessee (6-10)

The Titans sang a sour song on defense all through 2012, so it’s time to fix some of that in Music City. They might look at the offensive line, but their needs are so hefty on D, and there are lots of solid prospects on the board.

Such as. …

Jarvis Jones, Lb, Georgia

11. San Diego (7-9)

Another team starting over after the talent base was erased by ill-advised moves in the last few years. New coach Mike McCoy

is offense-minded, and he sees all the holes on the line. …

Lane Johnson, Ot, Oklahoma

12. Miami (7-9)

Yet another team needing blocking help. After the Dolphins made so many splashes in free agency, they can afford to fill a

void, especially when one of the better offensive linemen still is available. …

Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina

13. New York Jets (6-10)

They didn’t miss on Rhodes, but they will consider an offensive playmaker here such as Tavon Austin or DeAndre Hopkins. In

the end, the back end on defense will be the target, and because this seems too high to take a safety, New York grabs. …

Xavier Rhodes, Cb, Florida State

14. Carolina (7-9)

The Panthers will be tempted to go back to the big guys. Then they will spot the little guy with the game-breaking skills

on kick returns, as a receiver and even perhaps in a version of the wildcat. They can’t resist. …

Tavon Austin, Wr, West Virginia

15. New Orleans (7-9)

The Saints will take about 10 seconds of their allotted time to write down their pick, instantly improving their pass rush

with a guy with good feel for getting to the quarterback and plenty of upside. …

Bjoern Werner, De, Florida State

16. St. Louis (7-8-1)

St. Louis would have liked a shot at Austin — receiver definitely is a need — and could go for one here. But with another

pick coming up soon where they can get a pass catcher, the Rams opt for the best safety in this draft. …

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

17. Pittsburgh (8-8)

As the Steelers keep insisting they are not a team in transition, one look at the roster says otherwise. Free agency losses

hurt them, and they lack the depth they’ve had in their contending seasons. The first upgrade this year is. …

Star Lotulelei, Dt, Utah

18. Dallas (8-8)

They would have loved Vaccaro in their secondary. The Rams spoiled that, and the Cowboys consider bolstering their backfield

and offensive line before taking the best man still unclaimed. …

Sylvester Williams, Dt, North Carolina

19. N.Y. Giants (9-7)

As the noise in the theater reaches a crescendo, with chants from blue-shirted Giants fans of “MAN-TI, MAN-TI,” the Giants

indeed fill their need for an inside linebacker with good instincts, passion and leadership skills. …

Arthur Brown, Ilb, Kansas State

20. Chicago (10-6)

There won’t be as much noise when the

Bears step up. There will be the same need for a linebacker, especially

with Brian Urlacher

gone. They find their man in Athens, Ga., a player who could play

inside or outside. …

Alec Ogletree, Lb, Georgia

21. Cincinnati (10-6)

With the Andre Smith free agency situation still cloudy — do the Bengals really want him back? — Cincinnati makes a move to

put pressure on the veteran. Or to let him walk. …

D.J. Fluker, Ot, Alabama

22. St. Louis (10-6)

A pick from Washington. Wisely, the Rams went with Vaccaro at No. 16 and still get the wideout to boost their passing game

at this spot. …

Deandre Hopkins, Wr, Clemson

23. Minnesota (10-6)

With two selections in the next three slots, Minnesota is going to help itself on defense both times. First up, yes, the Vikings

see plenty of value in that Notre Dame linebacker. …

Manti Te’o, Ilb, Notre Dame

24. Indianapolis (11-5)

Seeking a pass rusher to replace Dwight Freeney, the Colts look at Damontre Moore of Texas A&M, Datrone Jones of UCLA and

Alex Okafor of Texas. Moore is most ready to step in. …

Damontre Moore, De, Texas A&M

25. Minnesota (10-6)

A pick from Seattle. More help for the interior defense in a real bargain this late in the first round. Although the Vikes

are tempted to go for a wideout, they see excellent value in. …

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

26. Green Bay (11-5)

The Packers never expected to be in

this position, choosing between the best running back in this crop, the

two best tight

ends or an effective defensive tackle who never stops coming. Does

the question become which helps Aaron Rodgers more, a pass

catcher or a running back? …

Tyler Eifert, Te, Notre Dame

27. Houston (12-4)

Houston has a very obvious need:

finding a receiver to complement the superb but aging Andre Johnson.

That void has been a

major reason the Texans flopped in the playoffs the last two

years. There are three possible choices for that position, and

the answer is. …

Cordarrelle Patterson, Wr, Tennessee

28. Denver (13-3)

Getting past the Elvis Dumervil error

that made him a free agent will be a whole lot easier when the Broncos

find a nice replacement

— and a surprise first-rounder who impressed with 4 1-2 sacks in

the Alamo Bowl. …

Alex Okafor, De, Texas

29. New England (12-4)

Predicting anything Bill Belichick will

do, other than scowl or wear a hoodie, is impossible. Clearly, the

Patriots need help

virtually everywhere on defense, although they should be a runaway

winner in the AFC East even if they skip all their picks.

Now that would be different for Belichick. …

Matt Elam, S, Florida

30. Atlanta (13-3)

After giving lots of thought to Alabama RB Eddie Lacy, Atlanta backs off and turns to a defensive unit damaged in the offseason

by cuts and defections. With visions of defending Brees and Newton twice a season, they go for. …

Desmond Trufant, Cb, Washington

31. San Francisco (11-4-1)

The Niners almost won the Super Bowl, and they are loaded heading into the draft. So much so that they don’t have to flinch

about grabbing the best guy on their board. No selection for need here. …

Jesse Williams, Dt, Alabama

32. Baltimore (10-6)

The Ravens already don’t resemble the

team that won the championship. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Anquan Boldin,

Dannell Ellerbe,

Paul Kruger and Bernard Pollard — all gone. But GM Ozzie Newsome

is one of the best talent evaluators around. He’ll get this

pick right. …

Kevin Minter, Lb, LSU

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